An open trial evaluation of the BDZ (information and reduction) digital health program for people using benzodiazepines.

An open trial (pre-intervention through to a 6-month follow-up assessment) will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the benzodiazepine digital health program (BDZ digital health) that provides psycho-education and gradual reduction information. BDZ digital health is designed to provide people with information and strategies to address their benzodiazepine use via five ‘core’ modules, plus an Introduction module. The five BDZ digital health core modules are: 1. Benzodiazepines and Dependence: This module provides psycho-education around what BDZs are, dependency on BDZ, BDZ effectiveness and appropriate and inappropriate uses of BDZ. 2. The Pathway to Reduction: This module provides psycho-education on BDZ reduction and withdrawal processes, involving the 3 main steps in the BDZ reduction process 3. A Gradual Reduction Program (Case Illustration). This third module provides an illustrative case example of ‘Peter’ outlining his gradual benzodiazepine reduction program over time. 4. Withdrawal Symptoms. This module provides information around what BDZ related withdrawal symptoms are, common and uncommon withdrawal symptoms, and the issues with going ‘cold turkey’. 5. Managing Withdrawal Symptoms: This module contains information and helpful strategies to help manage the reduction/withdrawal symptoms (e.g., controlled breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, mindfulness meditation, problem solving, goal setting, increasing physical exercise, nutrition, sleep hygiene). All modules are open from the first log in and each module will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. Participants are encouraged to first read the Introduction module and then work through the other modules at their own pace, over the five weeks. Given the open access nature of the program modules, participants are free to choose whether they work through the modules sequentially or not. Participants will receive automated emails (e.g., to log on, when to complete the ‘during’, post intervention and follow-up scheduled assessment questionnaires). Modules make use of text, graphics, audio, video, editable forms, interactive games and downloads. Modules can be accessible via web, mobile or tablet devices. We also encourage participants to make use of the Reconnexion Benzodiazepine telephone support service while undertaking the BDZ digital health program, as well as work in conjunction with their doctor should they wish to commence benzodiazepine reduction. The BDZ digital health program is housed within the participant's ‘My Digital Health’ dashboard. My Digital Health is the parent platform that houses a variety of digital health programs. Via the participant’s dashboard, they are able to access several resources. This includes: My Dashboard, My Inbox, My Daily Monitoring, My Progress Graphs, My Timeline, My Profile and My Tutorial. It also includes a ‘Connect to Practitioner’ request button. If clicked, an Australian-based participant can request that we add their healthcare practitioner to their My Digital Health account. If the healthcare practitioner consents to participate, the healthcare practitioner is then digitally connected to the participant’s My Digital Health account. Participants will complete a pre-intervention assessment (Week 0), ‘during’ intervention (Week 3) assessment, a post-intervention assessment (Week 6) and a 3 and 6-month follow-up assessment (Week 18 & Week 30 respectively). While the ‘during’, post-intervention and follow up assessments are scheduled, participants will not be able to access the BDZ digital health program until they have completed the scheduled assessments (or after the expiry time to complete the scheduled assessment has lapsed). Participants will retain access to the program until Week 38 (8 weeks past the 6-month follow-up assessment). Participant engagement with the program will be obtained through by passive analytic data (e.g., what pages / modules they visited / used and when), as well as reviewing the module review questions submitted, completion of daily mood and lifestyle event survey and scheduled intervention assessments. Participating healthcare practitioners may be invited to provide feedback about their digital connection experience.